Why Perfect Dinner Parties are for Pansies

I’m saying a lot with that title up there huh? I don’t mean to call names, but it felt right so I’m rolling with it.

I don’t do perfect dinner parties. Never have, even when I tried.

Oh, believe me, I have tried. I’ve pulled out the perfect plates, centerpieces, and color coordinated table settings. I’ve tried (in vain of course) to get just the right lighting for those pinterest perfect pictures we all constantly see scrolling through our feeds.

You know what actually happens when we have a dinner party? The centerpieces get pulled off the table so there’s room for the food, and people can actually see each other. The serving dishes get scattered to counter tops and corners so the diners actually have some elbow room. The serving spoons drip on the table, while empty beer bottles start to pile up as the conversation goes on and on. It’s not exactly the pristine and pretty setting that you see, even from those half eaten tray of food pictures. It’s messy and cluttered and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I love these messy nights around the table where people feel free to talk about all the wild thoughts that come to mind or pull out guitars right there in the dining room for an impromptu band practice (this might, in fact, be my favorite).

I’m always apologizing to my guests for my messy house (and I don’t even have a kid yet!) but I’ve recently decided I should just stop doing that. My house, like my table, is messy because we live here.

My floors will never be dust free. There will always be a pile of boots by the door, crafts on the coffee tables, and mail on the counter, just like there will always be stains on my table linens, and mismatched plates. This is how we live, and love and connect with people in our home.

Say what you will about my less than perfect photos, cheap cocktails, and slapped together dinners. We love them and our guests seem to keep coming back for more.

Recipe Note: Broccoli stems store really well in the freezer, so I collect them for a couple weeks until I have enough for a recipe like this.

Broccoli slaw with Citrus Vinaigrette

 

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Prep time

20 mins

Total time

20 mins

 

Serves: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• Juice of 1 lemon
• Juice of ½ orange
• 1 small shallot, peeled and minced
• ½ cup olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons honey (optional)
• Salt, pepper
• 4-5 large broccoli stems sliced thinly
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced thin
• ½ cup shredded cabbage (I like purple for color)

Instructions

1. In a large bowl whisk the lemon juice, orange juice, shallot, honey, oil, and spices together until well combined.
2. Add the broccoli, carrots, and cabbage. Toss until well coated.
3. Serve immediately.

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